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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: gun_sl1nger on Thu, 23 December 2010, 04:10:58

Title: Unicomp
Post by: gun_sl1nger on Thu, 23 December 2010, 04:10:58

Why don't Unicomp ship the endura USB out of the USA?

Second question: Which Unicomp would you guys recommend?Considering a purchase.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 23 December 2010, 05:37:02

Something to do with not having an FCC export license for the Endurapro's USB controller.

I think their best overall model is the Spacesaver. The Endurapro's pointing stick is a bit weird, and needs you to play with your OS' mouse settings a bit. Unless you're a big trackpoint fan, I wouldnt recommend it.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: woody on Thu, 23 December 2010, 07:02:31

Quote from: ch_123;267697

Something to do with not having an FCC export license for the Endurapro's USB controller.

I thought that probably their USB MCU has some crypto which has export restriction, but this sounds more like it.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: iMav on Thu, 23 December 2010, 09:37:48

It all depends on what you like.  If you are nostalgic about the old Model Ms, perhaps you'd want the Customizer.  If you want to save some space, obviously, go with the spacesaver.

Overall, I think the spacesaver is probably the most popular...but you can't go wrong with any of the buckling spring options.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: jpc on Thu, 23 December 2010, 10:26:23

Quote from: iMav;267760

It all depends on what you like.  If you are nostalgic about the old Model Ms, perhaps you'd want the Customizer.  If you want to save some space, obviously, go with the spacesaver.

Overall, I think the spacesaver is probably the most popular...but you can't go wrong with any of the buckling spring options.

A new Unicomp is going to feel really nice; a used Model M may feel like new, or it may not, if it's worn and the springs have aged. Buckling springs dull as they age.

Unicomp does a really nice job building the M.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: Aim Here on Thu, 23 December 2010, 11:31:36

Quote from: ch_123;267697

Something to do with not having an FCC export license for the Endurapro's USB controller.

Okay, delurk time, first post etc.

I have two USB Unicomps, shipped to the UK from Unicomp themselves, and when I boot up, 'dmesg' tells me that the keyboards identify themselves as the Endura, like so:

Quote

[    1.817142] usb 4-1: Product: Endura Keyboard
[    1.817143] usb 4-1: Manufacturer: Unicomp
[    1.817195] usb 4-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
...
[    2.165340] input: Unicomp  Endura Keyboard  as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:12.1/usb4/4-1/4-1:1.0/input/input3
[    2.165372] generic-usb 0003:17F6:0709.0001: input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.10 Keyboard [Unicomp  Endura Keyboard ] on usb-0000:00:12.1-1/input0
[    2.165388] usbcore: registered new interface driver usbhid

I reckon that the ID strings here are coming from the controller itself, not Linux itself (nowhere does the string 'Endura' appear in the kernel source, for instance). Presumably this means that either 1) either the Linux kernel or Unicomp's controller itself is lying to me, 2) Unicomp is engaged in the lucrative practice of smuggling military-grade trackpoint controllers in their non-trackpoint keyboards contrary to US export regulations, or 3) there's some other reason.


As to which is the best, I have a black Customiser 104 (or 105) and a beige Spacesaver. I love them both, but the spacesaver does feel a little more solid and rugged somehow, and I like the size a bit better.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: quadibloc on Thu, 23 December 2010, 11:57:23

Here, I thought that the problem was that they had a U.S.-only license for some of the technology in the particular keyboard. I would have thought that the FCC licensed things for U.S. use, and one could export things to foreign countries as long as they met those countries' regulations - even if the regulations, for anything from RFI to product safety, were much lower than U.S. regulations. Some countries, for example, can't afford to use safer alternatives to asbestos to protect against fire.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: gun_sl1nger on Thu, 23 December 2010, 12:42:42

(http://184.72.239.143/mu/6eae1ffc-a1b2-2e09.jpg)

You mean this guy is the Leader of the FCC? Wow.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: woody on Thu, 23 December 2010, 13:00:26

Quote from: Aim Here;267828

when I boot up, 'dmesg' tells me that the keyboards identify themselves as the Endura

They are strings in the descriptors, could be just about anything.
I'll put "Big Rock" in mine.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 23 December 2010, 13:45:02

I'm merely rehashing what their site used to say. I have no idea what export laws the US may or may not have.

Title: Unicomp
Post by: woody on Thu, 23 December 2010, 14:25:44

Quote from: ch_123;267920

I have no idea what export laws the US may or may not have.

They had this funny 40-bit limit on exporting crypto.
Has nothing to do with this (http://marc.info/?l=openbsd-tech&m=129236621626462&w=2).